| Citation: | 40 Div Pro Coy Sek Kong. Hong Kong. 5 Aug 53. On 4th August 1953 at Sek Kong, Hong Kong, two soldiers absented themselves from their barracks, taking with them a sten gun and ammunition which they has stolen from the arms tore. They engaged a taxi and rode in it into the country. On a lonely stretch of the road they held up the taxi driver at the point of the loaded gun, struck him, bound and gagged him, stole his watch and money, and threw him out of the vehicle. They the took the taxi and drove away in it. Corporal ESSON and lance Corporal Cuthbert aware that these two soldiers were absent without leave, were armed and that they had already used the gun to obtain possession of the taxi. On the evening of 5th August 1953 Corporal ESSON on motor cycle patrol accompanied by Lance Corporal CUTHBERT, the two NCOs were searching the countryside for the missing men and the taxi. At 2120hours a car answering the description of the stolen taxi passed them going in the other direction. Both immediately turned their motor cycles round and gave chase. Corporal ESSON forced the driver to pull into the side of the road. He noticed that one of the occupants, who was sitting in the back of the car, was holding a sten gun. He therefore engaged the drive in conversation until Lance Corporal CUTHBERT had joined him, when they quickly drew their revolvers and Corporal ESSON grabbed the sten gun which he found to be loaded. The two NCOs then ordered the men to get out of the taxi and afterwards marched them some 500 yards to the nearest Military building. Corporal ESSON showed outstanding initiative and presence of mind in dealing with an armed man. In addition he displayed great bravery and disregard for his own personal safety in effecting these arrests. it is considered that his conduct in this incident was of the highest order. Corporal ESSON is a young regular NCO who has in the recent past, been of great assistance to the Civil Police in this Colony in connection with cases which have occurred in which soldiers have been involved. He has worked very long hours on a number of occasions and has shown outstanding devotion to duty. Lance Corporal CUTHBERT, a keen young National Service NCO showed outstanding initiative and presence of mind in dealing with an armed man. Lance Corporal CUTHBERT displayed great courage and disregard for his own safety in in effecting these arrests. It is considered that his conduct in this incident was of the highest order.Maj GC DS Lowe TD DAPM HQ Far East Land Force, Hong Kong. Maj General GOC Land Forces Hong Kong. C in C FARELF. National Archive WO 373/122. Aslo shown in Corps Journal 3rd Quarter 1954. |
